Machine for cleaning and waxing photographic films.



R. S. SCHEIBLEIN.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

I I Im ,au I. IIufiw III IIIIIIIIIII RUPERT S. SCHEIBLEIN, OF MERCHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

Speccation of Letters Patent. l Patented Apr., 15, M1919.,

Application led April 27, 1916. Serial No. 93,864.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, RUPERT S. SCHEIBLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Merchantville, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cleaning and Waxing Photographic Films; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

"Ihis invention is a novel machine for cleaning and waxing films, and is intended to be used in connection with so called moving picture machines, and its object is to provide means whereby the long ribbon films may be cleaned and waxed during their passage through the machine. The` invention provides novel means for brushing the film, then wiping the film, and then waxing the perforated edges of the film, so that such perforated edges will not tear when the film is passed through the projecting machine. By use of this invention the picture projected from the films will be clearer, the life of the lm will be greatly increased and the snapping and cracking noises which are ordinarily attendant upon the operation of such lms will be obviated, or very materially lessened.

One practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited to the specific construction shown as, when understood, others can readily adopt and embody the same in other specific forms.

I will explain the invention with reference to said drawings, and then set forth in the claims the essential features and combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

' In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the complete machine with the film removed.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the parts in operative position in full lines and with a section of film thereon.

Fig. 3 is a front end view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section on line 4-4 Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are details.

The operative parts of theo machine are mounted upon a base plate 1, which may be attached to any suitable support. From this base rise side members 1qe between Vwhich, at the rear side of the attachment,

above which the sides 1L slightly project. This table is adapted to support a wiper 2, which may be of felt, or other suitable material, and over which the lm F is passed.

Above the film and table is a second wiper 2a, similar to wiper 2. Wiper 2a is yieldingly pressed down toward wiper 2 and upon the film by means of a presser plate 3 which is provided with upturned ends 3 by which it may be supported in a plate 3b having ears 3c hinged to upwardly projecting extensions 1c of the sides 1a. The member 3 is yieldingly depressed by means of a bowed spring 3d one end of which is fastened to the plate 3b, as shown, while its free end engages the plate 3, about centrally thereof, and tends to press said plate yieldingly upon the wiper 2EL when the plate 3b is lowered as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The plate 3 may be held down by means of a bar 4 pivoted at 4a on one of the sides 1 above the table 1b, and having its other end notched as at 4b to engage under the head of a screw or stud 4?..on the other side 1a as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to ass a film F through the machine the plate 3b with presser 3 can be readily swung up to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. i

The rear end of the wiper 2 may be secured by means of a loop 2f having its ends pivotally attachedto the sides of the frame, the body of the loop being adapted to clamp the projecting end of the wiper 2A against the rear end of the table 1b as shown in Fig. 2. The rear end of the wiper 2a may be doubled back upon itself and under the front end of plate 3b as indicated in Fig. 2.

The side members 1a are extended above and beyond the front end of the table la, as shown at 1, and are provided on their opposed faces with 4inwardly projecting brackets or bearing portions 1e; and above the brackets 1e the parts 1c are provided with inwardly projecting vertical portions 1f, the lower ends of which do not contact with the upper surfaces of the brackets 1e; a sufficient space being left therebetween for the passage of the perforated edges of the film F; which edges rest upon and are guided by the members le. The central portion of the film after it has been cleaned does not come in contact with the brackets. Journaled in the extension 1 above the is a table portion 1b perforated margins brackets 1e and -at opposite sides of portions lt are film uidin rollers 5, which may be provided with col ars 5a opposite the brackets adapted to engage the perfora-ted edges of the film F and hold same to prevent same buckling between the rollers.

The portions lf'are provided with vertical bores lg above the projections 1" andin these vbores are (placed wax sticks or fillers W, the

lower en s of which sticks rest upon the perforated edges of the film F as shown 1n Figs. 2 and 4. The wax sticks are pressed down with yielding pressure by means of rods 6 inserted in the bores 1g above the sticks, said rods being connected to a plate 6a which has a central opening through which loosely passes a screw 6b that is tapped through a threaded opening in a top bar 1h connecting the upper ends of the portions lf. An expansion spring 6 is strung on the upper end of screw 6b between plate 6" and a washer 6d on the upper end of screw 6b. Screw 6b may be provided with a head piece 6e by which it can be readily turned by hand. By adjustin can be yieldingly orced down upon the of the film with any desired pressure; and as the wax diminishes the screw 6b tain a substantially uniform pressure of the waX on the film.

Before the film is passed between the wipers 2 and 2a it is preferably brushed so as to remove any dust therefrom and clean the perforations in its margins by passing 1t between brushes 7 and 8. These brushes and 8 are shown as mounted on a bracket 8a attachedA to the table 1b as shown in Fig. 2 or other suitable support, and the brush 8 is secured between uprights 8b attached to this bracket and may be detachably secured thereto in any suitable manner. As shown it is secured by means of a rod 8 fastened by a thumb screw 8d as shown in the drawing. The upper brush 7 may be similarly secured to the uprights 8b by means of a rod 7a and thumb nut 7b, and members 8b may be slotted as indicated at 7 for the accommodation of the rod 7, and to permit the brush 7 to be adjusted vertically relatively to the `brush 8, to regulate the pressure of the brushes upon the film passing therebetween.

VVhen the machine is to be used, the film F 1s first passed between brushes 7 and 8, then between the cleaners 2 and 2, and then be tween the rollers 5 and brackets 1 with the margmal edges gassing under the wax sticks W; and as th` film is drawn forward through the machine the brushes 7 and 8 sweep the film, and then the wipers 2, 2 pollsh the film; and then the waxing devices waX the perforated margins of the film; as the brushes are yielding, and the wipers are held under spring pressure, and

the screw the wax W can be tightened so as to main.

the wax is held under spring pressure; all

to insure thorough cleaning and) waxing" thereof, while preventing tearing thereof.

If the film is new and does not need cleaning ybut only waxing, so that the perforated margins will not tear when being run through the projecting machine, the plate 3* may be thrown up out of the way, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and the film can then be waxed without being cleaned. The waxing device will wax the perforated margins of the film uniformly without scratching or otherwise injuring the fihn. The guide rollers prevent the film' buckling or cracking while being waxed.

The operator can adjust the device for feeding the wax under spring pressure to a nicety so that just enough wax will adhere to the film to avoid friction of the film when run through the projecting machine, and this will obviate or materially lessen the cracking and snapping noises during the passage of a film through a projecting machine, as the wax keeps the perforated margins of the film moist or soft and prevents them breaking or cracking.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for waxing photographic films, the combination of a frame, having opposite side members provided with brackets adapted to support the margins of a film, rollers mounted in said sides adapted to coperate with said brackets and hold the margins of the lm, wax holders on said side members abovev the brackets, rods entering said holders to expel wax therefrom, a plate connecting said rods, a spring for depressing said plate and rods, and a screw for regulating the tension of said spring.

2. In a machine for cleaning and waxing photographic films, the combination of brushesadapted to brush the film, means for wiping the film, means for guiding the film, and means for applying wax to the margins of the film. t

3. In a machine for' cleaning and waxing photographic. films, the combination of brushes adapted to brush the film, means for wiping the film, means for iding the wax receptacles adjacent t e margins of the films, and spring means for projecting wax against the margin of the film.

4. In a machine for cleaning and waxing photographic films, the combination of brushes adapted t'o brush the film, means for wiping the film, means for guiding the wax receptacles adjacent the margins 5; In a machine for cleaning and waxing photographic films having perforated margins, the combination of brushes adapted to brush the film, means thereonfor wiping the lm, means for guiding the lperforated marginsof tlie rvax receptacles 10 adjacent `the margins' ofthe films, rods for cxpellingwax from the receptacles, a springA for actuating said rods, and means for adv e juting the tensionof said spring.

n testimonythat I'claim the foregoing 15 as my own, l aflx my signature.

i RUPERTS. sormiBLErN. 

